First Saltwater Tank! Any advice is GREATLY appreciated!

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Clogging and flooded floors waiting to happen

Lol but how??? The video that pistondog showed me above shows what I will be doing aside from putting the elbow on the emergency overflow but instead I'm just going to not have that elbow and make the emergency overflow higher so that it's technically at the same level as the guys in the video, just straight.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

If you have a reverse osmosis, de ionized system for your tap water, use that.

Thats exactly what I have. So I can just use my normal water then! Awesome!

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

You can hook up a rodi under any sink cabinet. Just tap into cold water line

Thats what I have already!

 

[Fish Fan]

Get something like an overflow from Modular Marine. This requires two holes drilled in the tank, but you'll have a three hole, Bean Animal style drain coming from the overflow box:

1200 gph LOW PROFILE Overflow Box with REMOVABLE WEIR

BRAND NEW SUPERIOR DESIGN! MODULAR MARINE'S 1200 gph LOW PROFILE OVERFLOW BOX Features:- 1200+ GPH capability - Entire skimmer box pulls off for easy cleaning! - Slimmest and shortest skimmer box on the market! - This design keeps water line hidden behind trim - Works with rimless, eurobrace...

modularmarine.com

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Start budgeting for a light if you want coral, and no matter what (at least in the beginning) do water changes

Right! I'm just hoping that I win that Orphek light! Lol. Yeah until I can get all the levels of everything right.

 

[Pistondog]

Yeah so that's exactly how I plan to do it but my emergency is going to be sideways just like the normal overflow but slightly higher so that it's not directly in the water, just like the guys emergency is, his is just higher because he has the elbow on it but it's the same thing technically. The box really doesn't seem necessary also, I feel like it's just to block the pipes from showing cause the water level is going to be the same with or without it.

The box works to allow surface skimming and correct functioning of the drain.
I dont think it will work correctly without tne weir/box.

 

[Fish Fan]

Thats exactly what I have. So I can just use my normal water then! Awesome!

I would really double check that. You don't drink RODI water, most home water systems do not have a DI canister included. Your home water filter may look similar, but I'm going to doubt you have DI on it. A DI canister (or two!) is both easy and cheap to add to your filter if you don't have one. But I'd double check

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Why don’t you just buy a tank that is all ready to assemble. They have many of them at reasonable prices these days. Drilling a tank, figuring out what goes where, etc is something that is no longer needed in this day age. Plug and play, especially as a newbie.

Also medicated quarantine = success.

Good for you for asking questions ahead of time.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Get something like an overflow from Modular Marine. This requires two holes drilled in the tank, but you'll have a three hole, Bean Animal style drain coming from the overflow box:

1200 gph LOW PROFILE Overflow Box with REMOVABLE WEIR

BRAND NEW SUPERIOR DESIGN! MODULAR MARINE'S 1200 gph LOW PROFILE OVERFLOW BOX Features:- 1200+ GPH capability - Entire skimmer box pulls off for easy cleaning! - Slimmest and shortest skimmer box on the market! - This design keeps water line hidden behind trim - Works with rimless, eurobrace...

modularmarine.com

Thank you, I'll look into it!

 

[Popeye]

Ooohhhhh I had no idea! So then I would only be ever refilling with RODI water? And then I would only be checking salinity to possibly add salt if I add to much RODI water or am I just never worrying about salinity cause I'm technically putting in the same amount of RODI water that evaporated out?

Top off will keep salinity stable

 

[ieatbugman]

Why don’t you just buy a tank that is all ready to assemble. They have many of them at reasonable prices these days. Drilling a tank, figuring out what goes where, etc is something that is no longer needed in this day age. Plug and play, especially as a newbie.

Also medicated quarantine = success.

Good for you for asking questions ahead of time.

Quarantining fish is good, also good on you for asking questions

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

There is a book called “the conscientious marine aquarist” by Mr/Dr. Fenner. He has passed (may he rest in peace) and some of the equipment stuff is a little outdated. But the concepts are amazing. I bought it 30 years ago and I still have it and read it. I’m sure you can find a used copy. I recommend it highly.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

The box works to allow surface skimming and correct functioning of the drain.
I dont think it will work correctly without tne weir/box.

I've seen a lot of tanks without that box though?

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

I would really double check that. You don't drink RODI water, most home water systems do not have a DI canister included. Your home water filter may look similar, but I'm going to doubt you have DI on it. A DI canister (or two!) is both easy and cheap to add to your filter if you don't have one. But I'd double check

Lol you are VERY correct sir. Just checked. Thank you! But how can I add it to my system if I can't drink it??? Or can I just put it on when I'm needing the RODI water and take it off when I'm not using it?

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Why don’t you just buy a tank that is all ready to assemble. They have many of them at reasonable prices these days. Drilling a tank, figuring out what goes where, etc is something that is no longer needed in this day age. Plug and play, especially as a newbie.

Also medicated quarantine = success.

Good for you for asking questions ahead of time.

Well what's a reasonable price??? And other than drilling, what else comes in an all ready assembled tank? I am using my 55 gallon cause that's what I already had from a while back.
Yeah I thought about the quarantine which I know is SUPER important but I don't have the room right now and plus I don't plan on having fish/coral in there till many months later.
Thank you!

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Top off will keep salinity stable

Awesome! I didn't know that, I thought i would have to keep messing with salinity also!

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Quarantining fish is good, also good on you for asking questions

Yeah exactly. Thank you!

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

There is a book called “the conscientious marine aquarist” by Mr/Dr. Fenner. He has passed (may he rest in peace) and some of the equipment stuff is a little outdated. But the concepts are amazing. I bought it 30 years ago and I still have it and read it. I’m sure you can find a used copy. I recommend it highly.

Ohh wow, that sounds interesting!

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

If you have a reverse osmosis, de ionized system for your tap water, use that.

So actually I DO NOT have the RODI, just the RO system lol. Do they sell a RODI system to connect to a hose outside or something? If I can't drink the water than I don't have anywhere inside the house that I can put it.

 

[B&CinB.C.]

If you go on Innovative Marines website and check out their Nuvo INT (interior overflow) and Nuvo EXT (exterior overflow) aquariums there are pictures and diagrams of their plumbing. They use Bean Animal ( three drain) plumbing .